Exercise for kids gets more inclusive

By Lydia Duncombe, Staff writer

Updated 5:15 pm, Friday, June 14, 2013

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Trainer Amanda Delgado (left) uses resistance bands to do strength training exercises with 10-year-old Carlos De La Garza, who has autism, during a recent session of the Any Body Can program at the Braundera Family YMCA. less

Trainer Amanda Delgado (left) uses resistance bands to do strength training exercises with 10-year-old Carlos De La Garza, who has autism, during a recent session of the Any Body Can program at the Braundera ... more

Most of us take physical activities such as this in stride, but for families with kids who have mental disabilities, they're a big deal.

It's harder for mentally handicapped kids — those with Down syndrome or autism, for instance — to learn how to exercise because of cognitive delays. And the obesity rate among the developmentally disabled is rising.

So the nonprofit organization Any Baby Can created a program called Any Body Can to work with families to ensure the special needs children in their lives, such as Daniela and Carlos, have every opportunity to stay active.

“We try and educate the family on how to keep their child active,” said Alfred Chavira, director of Health and Wellness Programs at Any Baby Can. “Often watching TV is the easiest thing for them to do. We don't want it to be that way. We want people to know how to work with these kids ensuring things like obesity and diabetes don't become a problem for them.”

The program, which began 15 months ago, has worked with about 60 local families with children 4 to 21 for eight months each.

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There are four steps in the process: jump-start, exploration, inclusion and self-training. A nutritionist is also sent to the family's home to discuss healthy diets.

“The first step is teaching the kids basic exercises using simple pictures and videos in their home,” said health and wellness coordinator Amanda Delgado. “The second is to introduce them to the gym to show them exercise in a different setting. If we can, we use machines such as the treadmill or elliptical. The third is getting the kids involved in something in the community such as water aerobics or T-ball.

“The last step, we hand off to them to implement what they already know. Follow-up phone calls are made once a week just to check in.”

Delgado and other trainers work closely with the children on a weekly basis. The hardest part is getting the kids motivated, she said, but once that happens, they are enthusiastic about exercise.

Families play a huge role in helping their children progress in the program. Many of the kids enjoy working out with family members. Siblings are especially encouraged to participate in the training sessions.

“I like working with her so she'll become strong and healthy,” said Daniela's brother, 8-year-old Aaron Escobedo. “I show her how to exercise, like running and hitting a baseball. I showed her how to shoot hoops.”

Other participants in the program, endorsed by the Mayor's Fitness Council, include theYMCA and San Antonio Parks and Recreation. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up and help in the process.

“The YMCA and Parks and Rec allow us to use their facilities for free to provide classes to the families,” Chavira said. “Both of their staffs also received training from our program on how to work with kids with special needs. It's a different style of learning, communication and instruction with these kids.”

Proponents of Any Body Can hope that the program will bring awareness that the mentally handicapped are capable of doing anything a normal child can do —just with some extra help and support of their families.

“A lot of people just don't understand these kids,” said Daniela's mother, Patricia Escobedo. “We live in a world where there are all types of people, and the public needs to understand that. Daniela and others with Down syndrome or autism can do the things other kids can. They just need more opportunities.”